Fracture appliance



July 5, 1932. A BRYANT 1,865,827

FRACTURE APPLIANCE Filed NOV. 14. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l EMORY A BRYANT 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 5, 1932.

E. A. BRYANT FRACTURE APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 14. 1929 W w m m Mm qnv/ 0m ATTORN EY Patented July 5, 1932 PATENT OFFICE 1 EMORY A. BRYANT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FRACTURE APPLIANCE Application filed November 14, 929. Serial No. 407,088.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3; 1883, .AS AMEITDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) My invention relates broadlyto a fracture appliance and bandage for ffractures, and more particularly to the bandaging and retension of fractures of the maxillary bones 5 of the'face in proper position during the period of healing and restoration to normal function, while at the sametime retaining the normal action of the inferior maxillary in the process of feeding, drinking and speaking, opening and closing the mouth.

The object of my invention-is to retain the fractured parts of the superior or inferior maxillary bones in proper apposition by means of an appliance and bandage applied externallyto the face and jaws, while at the same time allowing the patient to takenourishment, drink, and to converse in comfort without displacement of the fragments or the fractured parts, and to avoid the danger of and subjected to sea-sickness, caused by inability to open the mouth and expell the vomit where the bandaging or wiring of the teeth in an immobile position has heretofore been resorted to, and serious results occurred.

With the above objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of my improved device as applied to a patient;

Figure 2 is a side view of my invention as applied with bandages to the face of a patient;

Figure 3 is a back view. of my improved device as applied with bandages to a patient.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 10 indicates a head piece or wire to i which are hinged by screw posts 11 and screws 12, brace extension wires 13. Adjusting units ll are positioned on the head piece 10 by set screws 15. Removably secured to wires 13 by set screws 16 are brace tubes or sleeves 17 that have positioned in their ends a jaw 53 brace or cup wire 18. The cup wire 18 is death by suffocation of patients being at seafirmly held in'the brace tubes 17 by set screws 19.- A chin cup 20 that is adapted to fit up against and well in under the chin of a patient -is placed on the wire 18 by means of a curved flange or lip 21 that is an integral part'of the cup 20. The head piece 10 has rolls 22 suitably positioned thereon to act as pads when the piece is placed on the head and between the pads 22 is secured a supporting strip 23. The strip 23 is preferably of flexible metal so that the same can be curved around the contour of the head and turned up into a loop as at 24. Inthe posterior border of the cup 20 are apertures 25v through which fine wires 26 may be drawn in order to hold up the cup by fastening the wires 26 onto the sleeves 17 just in back of the screws 19.

In applying the appliance after the fractures have been reduced and temporarily held in placelbyrany 'm'ethod indicated in the case in hand, the tubes 17 and chin cup 20 are removed from 'thehea'd wire 10 byunscrewing the-hinge screw 12. The head wire isthen placed with the rolls 22 on the headof the patient and the strip 23 turned over the head wire 10 and secured to it loop 24 at the neck being left open and turned down on the neck for the reception of aneck bandage 27 when applied. The hinge member 11 and screws 12 are now adjusted on the head wire 10 to the point'opposite the opening'in the ear and one-half inch forward of the same, which is at the'point of the tip of the condyle rest in the glenoid fossa. The unit 14 is then adjusted so that when the neck bandage 25 is brought over it at the lower part of the lobe of the ear the bandage will not iminge upon the ear. Having adjusted the parts referred to, an assistant holds the head wire 10 in proper'position on the head, a bandage of suitable size is then passed round the chin and neck three or four times each turn over the unit 14 and spread out on the chin soas to cover the same. a This bandage so far applied is then tied temporarily at the back of the neck while the bandage is secured by tying the same to the head wire 10 at the adjusting unit 14. The hinge jaw brace 17 and the chin cup 20 arethen taken and adjusted tov the chin and jaw over the bandage already in place until they rest properly and can be attached by the screws 16 to the head wire 10. Having set these two screws 16, the lip 21 of the cup 20 is placed over the jaw brace wire 18 and it is then wired through the holes 25 to the tube 17 just back of the screw adj ustment 19 so that the chin cup 20 fits in place snugly to the chin.

Having made all the adjustments, four or more turns of a bandage around the neck and chin cover all the metal parts from the point of the chin back on the jaw tube 17 going over the screw head 15 and under the ear lobes, tying as before and turning up and securing the supporting strip by loop 24. The loose ends of the bandages are secured by a piece of tape and adhesive tape is used to secure and smooth out that portion of the bandage around the chin wire 18 thus making the chin immovable except in opening and closing the mouth.

The appliance and bandage are now in place permanently until the proper time arrives, the fracture healed and the patient ready to be discharged.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention, and that various changes in construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims, and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

The herein described invention may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalties thereon under provision of the act of March 3, 1888 as amended April 30, 1928.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In a fracture appliance and bandage for fractures of the maxillary bones, adjustable sleeves, a chin cup, means adj ustably securing said cup to the sleeves, a head piece extending over the head from points just below the ears, hinge means securing said sleeves to said head piece at a point corresponding with the junction of the condyles of mandible with the gle noid fossa, to allowhorizontal motion to conform to the opening and closing of the mouth a bandage around all of said parts to hold the same in position and an adjustable unit on said head piece adapted to position and to hold said bandage just below the lobes of the ears.

2. In a fracture appliance and bandage for fractures of the maxillary bones, a bandage xtending around the chin, jaw and back of the neck, a head piece extending over the head from points just below the ears, adjustable units on said head piece adapted to support said bandage just below the lobes of the ears, sleeves, hinge means detachably securing said sleeves to each side of said head piece at points on said piece to correspond with the junction of the condyles with the glenoid fossa, a jaw brace having its ends inserted into said sleeves, a chin cup placed on said brace and adapted to fit up in under and around the chin of a patient and a second bandage extending round said cup, aw and back of the neck and also supported by said adjustable unit, whereby horizontal motion is allowed to conform with the opening and closing of the mouth.

3. In a fracture appliance and bandage for fractures of the maxillary bones a bandage extending around the chin, jaw and back of the neck, a head piece having pads thereon, extending from points just below the ears, adjustable units on each side of said piece adapted to support said bandage just below the lobes of the ears, sleeves, hinge means detachably securing said sleeves to each side of said head piece at points on said piece corresponding to the unction of the condyles with the glenoid fossa, a jaw bracechaving its ends inserted into said sleeves, a chin cup placed on said brace and adapted to fit up in under and around the chin of a patient, means holding said cup snugly under the chin, a second bandage extending round said cup, jaw and back of the neck and supported by said adjustable unit, and a supporting strip securing to said head piece and following the contour of the back of the head to retain said head piece and bandages in proper position.

EMORY A. BRYANT. 

